Traveling with my lovie over seas

[Tittersmom]

Hi,

I havent been on here in years but I desparately need some help.
I am moving from Canada to Holland. I am having allot of trouble finding an affordable flight company that will allow me to take Echo in the cabin with me. I am very stuborn and refuse to let her go in the cargo like some piece of luggage. the only airlines that i have found are Delta and United that go from toronto to amsterdam but both of them are on the very pricy side. If anyone has any experience or can help me I would greatly appreciate it.

Milou&Echo

[linda040899]

Is Continental Airlines an option? If so, I would highly recommend flying with them. Otherwise, go with Delta. Those 2 are the top carriers as far as live shipments are concerned, at least that I'm aware of.

Perhaps others will have some ideas in addition to what I've just offered.

[Eliza]

Have you researched quarantine issues? I'd check with the Canadian consulate and Dutch Embassy/ Netherlands consulate before booking a flight or shipment.

[Tittersmom]

thank you for your speedy replies.
I called continental and they do not transport animals in cabin internationally. I found some cheaper flights for delta that my parents are thinking on.
I looked online at the dutch embassy and it says there that you need a health certificate ten days prior to the arrival date for your pet bird and this will prevent quarantine. so i believe that should all be fine.

[personatus]

You need CITES and health documents to bring the bird over, shouldnt be a problem. Not sure whether your country has been infected with Avian influenza (bird flu) but if so then no birds, including pet birds, can be imported.

It's very rare airlines let people carry pets in the cabin, especially parrot like birds who are known for making noise and upsetting fellow passengers. The birds fine in a proper travel box and in the cargo hold, it's probably less stressful for the bird that way.

Where abouts in Holland are you moving to?

[LauraO]

I know it's hard to imagine a birdy in cargo but I have had two great experiences with my birds in cargo. We used Continental cargo to relocate most of our 26 birds from Honolulu to Portland, Or via Houston. We also shipped our two large birds in cargo when I flew Northwest and both were fine. I'm sure it's no fun for the birdies but at least you can relocate with them and that's all that matters. The cargo is pressure and temperature controlled.

Good Luck

[Tittersmom]

I don't believe bird flu has hit my area.
I don't know why but for some reason I can not bring myself to except cargo. everytime I consider it I just picture leaving her while she calls for me. I just think this would be least stressfull for her if I (her mate) was there to comfort/talk to her. and secondly I worry that something will go wrong like lost baggage type thing or they fail to secure her propperly, or they just don't handle with care. and I am just so afraid of getting her back and discovering she has died of stress or something. blegh i hate this :(

[linda040899]

Delta Airlines is very good with their live shipments. I've shipped birds with them a number of times and everything went very smoothly. For a long flight such as you are considering, I would use a dark colored carrier which will minimize stress because vision will be limited. Live shipments, at least with Delta, are not kept with baggage. They have a separate, climate controlled area and they do their best to make sure animals are comfortable.

I would be more concerned with rules and regulations regarding moving birds from one country to another. Are you planning on remaining in Holland or will you be coming back and bringing your lovebird with you? Returning may not be as easy as going.

[Tittersmom]

I plan on staying in holland so it will only be one trip for Echo.
If she would be going in cargo I would most likely travel with KLM or a cheaper airline.

[linda040899]

I would spend the extra money and travel Delta. You want Echo to be as safe as possible. Not all cargo carriers are created equal! Don't skimp because she can't be in the cabin with you.

[Tittersmom]

ok, here is the update... at last.
i have booked with delta, she is coming in the cabin with me :) i looked at cargo and decided it would be easiest and safest to take her in the cabin.
now I need to find a carrier asap, i was looking at one:
http://www.birdsupplies.com/Bird-Carriers-for-Air-Travel-p/dos-21060.htm
I don't know if that would be to big for her though :S, i kind of want to put her happy hut in her carrier with her, she has had once since she was a hatchling and i feel it will comfort her, she'll have a cozy, familiar place to hide. smaller ones look like this:
http://www.windycityparrot.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=19301101016&Category_Code=cagestravel
they don't look very secure and they deffinitelly would not fit a happy hut. of course it would be a lot easier to carry around.
What do you guys think?

[Mummieeva]

I prefer the first one myself. It looks alot safer and better built.



Steph

[linda040899]

The first carrier is the one you will need. It has to fit under a seat and the second one just isn't sturdy enough.

Keep in mind that for the flight, I would not put food or water dishes in the container unless they can be securely fastened to the side of the carrier. Turbulence can cause unsecured containers to become projectiles and that can cause injuries. In lieu of dishes, scatter a lot of food on the bottom of the carrier and use either apple or orange slices for fluid.

With the first carrier, there are ventilation slots on the side and I slip dowels through those to create perches.

Glad you booked Delta. You will not be sorry. :)

[FuzzyAga]

I would prefer to use the first cage. The second cage is good for 20-30 minutes in the car, or if you're carrying them briefly.

When you use the happy hut, you might rest it on the floor of the cage, or find other way to secure the hut to the cage, as one unit, so that the hut does not sway with every bump and thump of the plane. Linda's idea of having a perch in there also is a great idea. Wedge it in there somehow.

We traveled for 6-hours in the car with Juanita, but her happy hut was not secured to her cage, and poor Juanita did not have a chance to rest for one minute on that journey. :( I felt so bad. That hut was constantly swaying; it was impossible for her to stay in there. I didn't think it would be that turbulent, but it was, so I image the plane will be equally turbulent (even though it will be flying away above the actual turbulence).

Also, the hut will be a warm place for her in case the airconditioning is on.

We stopped for 30-minutes every once-in-a-while so that she could rest, but I know it wasn't enough.

The time to think about her well-being is now, on dry land, so a few minutes spent thinking this through will give you immeasurable peace of mind, I'm sure.

Safe travel. :)

[Tittersmom]

thank you for all your help, I ordered the first kennel, it did not tell me how many shipping days it will take so i won't expect it any later than tuesday, and then we can start practicing for the real thing and book a vet appointment. yikes this is all so exciting!

[personatus]

I use a small, dark box for transporting birds. I find thge darker it is, the less they stress. I put a couple of handfuls of seed at the bottom and a few slices of apple, for longer journeys they have a water bowl.

Out of interest, where about's in Holland?

[linda040899]

For this kind of travel, an airline approved carrier is mandatory. I have one that I use for shipping that is dark colored but I've used light colored ones, as well. I agree that dark is better but that is second to the carrier requirement in this case.

[Tittersmom]

I'm sure the carrier will be fine, it seems to me the best on the market :) and I am also planning on giving her bach rescue remedy, I don't know if you've heard of it but its a homeopathic calming medicine, they used it at the veterinarian where I worked. I myself use it for exams or presentations, works like a charm and its very safe.
I'm going to live in northern holland (I'd rather not be more specific on the internet)

[personatus]

Ok, although I dont think you have anything to worry about saying what city/town you live in? I live in Waalre, a small town outside of Eindhoven. :)

btw, we also use rescue remedy for our dog. :)

[linda040899]

I have over dozen of the same carrier that you will be using and I love them. I use them for transport to my vet's office and they will be used should I ever need to evacuate due to dangerous weather, time permitting.

[Tittersmom]

That's about two and a half hours south from where I'll be :)
I'm glad to hear someone that is happy with the carrier I'm getting :D

[Tittersmom]

The kennel arrived today and its great, its very light and compact but big enough to fit a couple perches and a hut... echo is still a little weary but we can work on that.
i also made a vet appointment 6 days before the departure date. she doesn't have a band so maybe the vet can get her one or the office manager who handles the phone told me they might giver her a microchip :S

[linda040899]

Lovebirds are too small to microchip, at least per my avian vet. Not a good idea. If you will PM me your address, I have some leftover Cockatiel bands that you will be able to just slip over her foot and it should stay in place for the trip. I've used these before and they work well.

[Tittersmom]

is that allowed though, don't they all need to have a unique band?

[linda040899]

The extra bands I have are each unique and have never used. The breeder who gave them to me is no longer in aviculture. I've used them when shipping birds and bands were required. The band may or may not be checked but about all they will do is write down the information on it.

The other thing that you might be able to do is get open bands from ACC. Closed bands are put on when birds are still babies. Not all breeders use them. The solution to that problem is an open band. In your case, the open band may work better, as the bands I have have the letters FL on them, which means they are out of country for you. I forgot about that....

[Tittersmom]

ok, what is ACC :S

[linda040899]

http://www.aacc.ca/rings.htm

My fingers were typing too quickly and I left out a letter. It's AACC. See the link above.

[Tittersmom]

That is probably why google didn't come up with anything relevant haha.
thanks, I just sent them an email, hopefully they will reply quickly.

[Tittersmom]

I looked into the requirements for bringing birds into the netherlands some more and asked around on another forum, and it turns out domestic lovebirds don't have to have a band. so im not going to stress to get one over here in time.